Residents from East Hemet, Valle Vista, and Hemet voiced strong opposition at the March 25 Hemet City Council meeting to a petition, signed by approximately 1,550 Hemet residents, seeking to annex East Hemet and Valle Vista into the city’s Sphere of Influence.Objecting to the petition, reportedly created by Hemet United, and their efforts to bring the council to consider annexing those areas, was questioned by long-time Hemet resident Chuck Benson, who expressed his concern that if annexed, the City of Hemet would not be able to maintain either the needed infrastructure or public safety required. He suggested the city was already overburdened with its own needs.Former city councilmember Laurie Van Arsdale was one of the dissenting voices, according to the local Citizen’s Portal
